Yanwath Hall
Yanwath Hall stands on the west side of the L & N.W. Railway, and on the right bank of the Eamont River, about 1½ miles from Penrith. It was probably built about the middle of the 14th century, and presents as good an example of the old English manor house as can be found in the district. Besides the massive square pele tower, there are the hall, kitchen, dairy, bakehouse, brewhouse, granery, barns, storehouse for provisions, and the usual buildings for farm stock.
The passage of the river Eamont here was the principal wath between Ullswater & Brougham and thus derived its name of Yan-wath. Dr. Taylor, in "Manorial Halls," quotes Machel's MSS, which runs thus:
Yanewath and Bridge, so called from their several passages over the Rimot ; of which there are four in the compass of this parish. Sc. "Yean Stanke,' 'Yane Stock-bridge,' 'Yanewath' and 'Yean Stan Brigg;' ie. one Stanke, one Stockbridge, one Wath, and one Stonebridge ; whence those several towns Rd. several names ; Sc. Pooley Stanke ; Stockbridge or Sockbridge, Yanewath or Yanwath ; and Brigg or Bridge ; which is so called because it is the most Eminent passage over this river ; for which reason it is called "The Bridge."
From the time of Edward I. to the reign of Henry VIII. this manorial hall was in possession of the family of Threlkelds, from whom it passed by marriage to the Dudley's, the fifth of whom, Christopher Dudley, sold it to Sir John Lowther in 1654.
Before the common was taken up in 1314, the gate to the common stood near to where the inn is now situated which bears the dialectic name of "Yanwath Yat," and bears on its sign the couplet:
This gate hangs well and hinders none,
Refresh, and pay, and travel on.
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